The third reserve power plant is located in Monthey USA

In addition to the installations in Birr in Aargau and in Cornaux NE will also be the existing one thermal power plant in it Monthly in the Lower Valais end be available as a back-up power station during the current winter. The federal government has signed an accompanying contract.

If there was a shortage of electricity, the power plant could handle it Thermotel the cimo Company industrial de Monthey SA will produce an additional 50 megawatts, according to a statement from the Federal Departments of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication (uvek) from Tuesday means.

A total of 336 megawatts

At the end of winter, a power plant reserve totaling about 336 megawatts is available.

The temporary backup power station in Birr will be available for emergencies from the end of March with a capacity of approximately 250 megawatts. This corresponds to a quarter of the output of the nuclear power plant of Leibstadt AG. Into the backup power station Cornaux can produce 36 megawatts and is operational.

Inside the power station Monthly can run on natural gas. It currently provides about 40 megawatts of power. The fixed costs for the provision over the contract period from February 15, 2023 to April 30, 2026 amount to approximately CHF 21.5 million.

Only in emergencies

According to the federal government, the plant is only used in emergencies. The recovery takes place as with the hydropower reserve Swiss grid. The amount of the variable costs, for example for the purchase, transport and storage of the fuel or the purchase of the CO₂-Emission rights, depends on whether the backup power station is actually used.

At the beginning of 2022, the Federal Electricity Commission (Elcom) 17 possible locations for a back-up gas plant. According to the concept, in addition to sufficient free space, the proximity of a gas pipeline and a connection to the railway network are decisive for the choice of location. This is the case, for example, if the installation is operated with fuel oil.

Borders temporarily lifted

The regulation required for the operation of reserve power plants has been in force since mid-February. Limits of the Air Pollution Control Ordinance are temporarily lifted for the systems. The measures to limit noise, to protect against noise and to limit the emission of carbon monoxide and laughing gas captures that uvek with the operating permits for each individual installation.

Backup power stations and emergency power generators are part of the measures taken by the Federal Council against power shortages in winter. Other measures include the hydropower reserve, more capacity in the transmission grid, the rescue package for system-critical electricity companies, the temporary reduction of residual water discharge from hydropower stations and the energy-saving campaign.

(SDA)

Source:Blick